Flushing-valve.



. E. G. WALTROUS.

FLUSHNG VALVE.'l iAPPLICATION FILED SEPT. l2. 1910.

latam!` Dec. 7, 191

fun "l m m m m EARL Gr. WATROUS. OF CHCAGO. ILLINOS.

FLUSHING-VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented .i sec. 7, i $315.

Application filed September l, 1910. Serial No. 581,609.

llc it known that l. Emi, G. lvl/A'inoiis a citizenoll thc l'uitcd States. residing; at (`lii cago. inthe count)y of (`ooli and State olz Illinois. have invented certain new and useiul improvements in Flushiiiir-Valves for li'ateiflosets. ot' which the i'ollowingir is a description. reference heine had to the ac.- coin|mii vin;f drawing. forming' a part of this specification.

Mv invention relatesto that class otl iiishingr-valves coinn1onli-' known as slow-closing valves. which are quicltlv opeiicd h'v or as the result ot a manual operation and which aiitoinaicall)v close upon release of the inanualli inoved part. the closing inoveinent ol the valve hein;r obstructed and retarded h v a confined hod v oi' watei; whose eecaiw through a sinall orilice or liv-pass regulates and controls nc`h cloaingi inoveincnt,

lt has l'or its oh'iect the iiniii'oved con strut-.tion and increased elliciencv ot' valves of this class. and itl novcltv will hc hei-ciw' after set forth and particularly pointed outl in inv claims.

ln the accoinpan vingh drawings Figure l is a vertical section ot' inv slow-closing' valve through thc center thereoll certain parte, however. heilig' shown in elevation: Figi'. L) is a siinilai' view with the valve iullv opened.

rl`he valve structure comprises airouter Shell or casing" having an upright oi` vertical poi-tion approviinatelv circular in cross section, whose lower end is formed into a rightainltrulai' hend int-losing a chamber l and terminating in a in|ie-conncction for thc \vatersuiiplv piptnand inovidedupon its oppositisidc with a second gii|ieconncction l) l`oi"the dihcharge pipe lailiiigl to the closet with which the valve is connected.

rl`he. upper end oi' the c vlindiical hodv ot' the casing in screw-threadcd .hoth intervnallv anil externally. its internal threads being-engaged hv the screw-threaded upper cnil oi an internal casing' l the interior of whose upper portion coiistituiesa chainher for the piston hereinafter dcsciihed. and wln4 .e lower portion ia composed of a caffelilte atriicture E which carries at itsl lower end an annular casting l:A the peripheryv ol' which lits snugly within the contracted lower end of the upright portion of the casing i and the openinfr'throiigh which constitutes the inain valveopening or waterA passage ot' the valve Structure` as hereafter described. 'They ring casting E2 is provided in its underside, with an annular recess in which tits a leather Ef" whose inner poi-tion coiistitiitl lthe valve scat,-i\'liile its outer portion restl upon an inwartlivv projecting annulail shoulder (i lorinetl upon the inner surface ol the caaiiig' ln assembling the parts the casing' l@ with its integral depending;` cage ll andl ring'- asting E is inserted into the open upper 'wir M `end of the outer casing until the external threads upon thc linner end ot the camine" E engage the internal threads in the. upper end ot' the casing and the former ia thereupon screwed on into the casing .i until the leather ring li in its lower end is lirnily seated against the. annular shoulder i1.. after which the i art 4 are lii'inlv secured in position h v ineanbl ot' a lcrew can (i which is screwed upon the upper end oil the casing; and is provided with an internal flange or annular .ahoiildeil which proiects inward over the upper end of thc casing and an annular siioiilder l'oiined upon the outer siii'- face oi" the casing l@ at the upper end oi5 its e.\:tei'iiall vY threaded portion. packing ring c confined hetween the annular iiange of the ca1i-i iece (i and the upper end ot' the casing A and the annular shoulder on the casing l) iaeiw'es; to eti'ect a tight joint hetween the parts.

'The niain valve ll. which coperates with 'the valve-seat lli. is carried h v the lower enti supplemental or relief valve K carried hy.

the lower end ot' a iocl L which extends upwardlv through the tubular piaton stein ll and through the. piston .l and the parts ahove it. and has secured to its extreme up per encl'a push huttion M hy means of which it-ina vhe depressed. against the resistance of a spring N. to unseat the valve K. the laL-' ter consisting of a nut screwed upon the lower end of the rod L and having a coneshapeii upper surface which seats rist a lli@ 55 chamber F above the piston. The area of Vlo Vzo

leather disk O located in a circular recess or seat formed to receive it in the underside of .the main valve H. The spring N referred to above is confined between the push button M and the top of the valve casing and surrounds the packing gland 'n about the valve rod L. A sleeve or housing R screwed to the top of the valve casing surrounds the spring and by means of an inwardly turned flange 1' limits the upward movement of the push buttonl M. The interior of the tubular piston stem I communicates 'at its upper end with a passage or chamber e formed in the body of the piston J, and this passage or chamber communicates by a port controlled by a check valve f with the space or chamber F above the piston J and within the screw cap G constituting the top of the main casing. Ports a, a2 formed in the shell or wall of the chamber F connect its interior with the interior of the surrounding casing vA, to afford ingress and egressof air and water in the operation of the valve. The tubular piston stem 1 is extended abofe the piston and somewhat enlarged in its interior diameter and the sleeve f] extends within the enlarged bore of the valve stem and at its upper end extends throughthe cap G and is provided with an upwardly extending flange g which rests upon and is secured t0 the cap in such a manner as to render the oint water tight. Obviously the sleeve will e immovable -with relation to the cap but the piston and associated parts will slide with reference thereto. The hol-low stem I is also provided at its lower end with a per- 'foration I for a purpose which will appear.'

The operation of my improved valve, under the foregoingconstruction and arrangement of parts, is as follows: All parts of the valve casing are normally free from water except the chamber B in the bottom of the valve casing which is normally filled with water llnder pressure from the supply connection C, but the main valve H is held to its seat by such pressure and by the spring N and the water therefore cannot pass through the valve to the discharge connection D. Upon depressing the push button M at the top of the valve, and thereby unseating the relief valve K, water under pressure passes from the chamber B upward through the tubular piston stem I and passage e in the piston to the port controlled by the check valve 7"', and' thence into the the upper side of the piston J being larger than that of the main valve- H, the preponderating pressure produced by this admission of the water to the chamber F above the piston will force the latter downward,'\ the air below the piston escaping in the of and below the opening therein, to permit free passage of water from the inlet connection and chamber B through the valve opening to the outlet connection D. This condition of things will continue so long as the relief valve K is held depressed and unseated by pressure upon the push-button M, but upon relieving this pressureon the bu'tton the spring N will instantly reseat the valve K and cut off the further admission of water under pressure to the ychamber F above the piston. IThe spring N, which has been compressed to a considerable extent at the opening movement of the valve, will also exert an upward pull or pressure upon the main valve H, through the medium of the rod L and relief valve K, and tend to lift said main 'valveto its seat. Said valve can rise no faster, however, than the piston J with which it is connected, and the piston J can rise only as fast as the water in the chamber F above it can escape. The check valve f prevents its escape through the lport by which it entered the chamber, but it may escape through the port a. until that is covered by the ascent of the piston and then slowly around the piston J if the latter is fitted loosely in its chamber F, or an adjustable by-pass p through the piston itself may be provided for the purpose, the two arrangements being familiar alternatives in valves-of this character. As soon as the piston and main valve have been lifted high enough, under the action of the spring, for the up er end of the cylindrical body of the valve to enter the opening in the valveseat the closing movement of the valve will be accelerated by the water pressure beneath it and the valve be quickly forced to its seat.

The ports a', a? in the wall of the chamber F permit the free escape of air from said chamber at the downward movement of the piston during the opening' of the valve, so that the pistonl may freely descend under the pressure above it withoutobstrucltion or resistance; while the provision of ber quickly enough tomaterially obstruct the opening movement of the valve; and any water that may pass into the chamber at the opening movement of the valve may subsequently escape from it through the port or ports in the bottom of the chamber. The ports o', a2 are not essential to the v operation of my ixrrroved valve, or to the attainment of the advantages of the ap# proximately closed chamber F beneath tlie piston J. since their places may be supplied by a sufficiently loose tit of the piston stem. I in the central opening in the bottoni ot' said cliainbei'. but I prefer to provide the ports tor the purpose. Nor is the check valve essential to the operation of my improved valve. t'or with the valve K closed by the spring and the superior pressure ot' the water behind it. water entering the passage in the hollow valve stem can only escape through the opening I. And the latter opening may also be omitted itI desired but it serves a useful function in connection with the sleeve q. IVitliout the latter element the l'ull pressure ot the water iii the chamber 1*" might penetrate' the packing in the gland N especially it the latter were Ilot in the best possible condition, and in t'act l'or the instant when the valve. h is open this packing is necessarily ex-. posed to the t'ull pressure through the interior ot' the sleeve f/ but this instantaneous exposure is not suliicient to cause the water to work through the packing, and when the valve I( is closed a condition ot' little or no pressure exists within the hollow stem due to the presence of the opening I. Therefore. any water forced into the hollow stein around the sleeve 1/ flows ott' and does not penetrate the packing. It is especially t0 be observed that since the outlet is con-v` nected to the bowl to be flushed at a point below the level ot' the valve the piston and cyliiide' are normally free troni water and therefore not 'subject to the accumulation of slime o' accretions ot' rust as is the :ase with the valves heretofore eiiiployed in which the piston and cylinder are normally submerged.

What I claim is:

1. 'In a device ot' the class' described. af rvalve casing having a valve seat and inlet and outlet..ports. a main valve on the inletside of the seat seating upwardly thereagainst, a cyliiide arranged above the 'alve seat on the outlet side thereof having a lowe; end closed against a rush ot' water but communicating by small drain openings with the outlet side ot' the casing.` a b v-pass between the upper and lower ends 'of the cylinder. a piston in the cylinder connected to the main valve. a passage troni the inlet side. of the valve scat to the upper end ot' the cylinder, and a valve controlling the said passage.

2. In a slowclosing valve. the conibriiiation of a casing having a vertical outer sIielI provided with inlet and outlet openings.;aV vertical `intci'natfshell comprising al. its up? pei'` c'nd a cylinder 'closed at its lower end except t'or drain openings adjacent/ said outlet opening and at its lower.iiextending below said cylinder, a cage liavng at its lower -cnd a partition and a valve seat, a

sages and provided with a cylinder having a closed top. a main valvecontrolling saill inlet, and outlet passages. a piston in said cylinder. said piston ha ving a hollow stein. a'valve control-ling the tlow ot' water through said hollow 'stem and having a valve stem extending through said hollow' stein and .through the topl ot' the casing; said hollow stem ha ving a sliding connection with the cylinder preventing tlow ot' water into the top of the cylinder,

a lateral passage in said piston governingvm communicatioii between said hollow stem and said cylinder top. and a check' valve in said lateral passage.

l. In a device of the class described, the combination of a casiiighaving inlet and outlet openings and a valve scat. a cylinder mounted above the valve seat and coaxial therewith. a main valve cooperating with thevalve seat. a piston in the cylinder having a hollow stel-ii -which is secured tothe main valve and itr'ords communication through said valve to the cylinder above the piston. a check valve governing communicatioiithroiigh such hollow steii i`,.,a bypass permitting restricted eommunicatian'from one side ot' said. piston to tlieotlie.. a Supplemciital valve. a valve seat therefor on the iiiaiijfgvflve..aiinl a-valve stein for operating @ana/isupplemental valve extending through the hollow stem. the hollow stem of the piston having a"sinall opening coni-eting the bore ot' said stem with the interior ot` the casing adjacent the outlet opening thereof. v

5. In a device ot' the class described, p.

valve casing having a valvt` seat, and inlf and outlet ports. a main'valve on the inlet side ot the seat and seating upwardly thereagainst; a cylinder arranged above the Valve seat andfoii the outlet side thereof. a piston iii the cyliiiderconnected to the main valve,

there being a "passage tjiro'ugli the main valve'. piston and connection t'or the flow of 5atei'. a valve controlling the passage hav- A ing a valve stem extendingthrough the passage. a" rap,.etoiug the upper end ot' the i Vli`iliililj, `tlriiojtg-liwhich cap the valve rod V provided with an operating liandle./:Lii"ott'set passage;el* in the piston .comn'iuiiicating 'through a valve seat with the cylinder at the upper l side ol' the piston. and a valve in said seat for controlling the tlow of water.

p6. In a slow-closing valve, the combination of a casing having a valve, seat, a main valvecoperating therewith, inflow and out- -flow ports in the casing, a cylinder, having the lower end closed except for passages of limited area, mounted above the valve and above the level of the outflow passage, a

y a cylinder piston in the cylinder, a passage for admitf ting water-to the upper end of the cylinder, a valve controlling such passage, and aV bypass for permittingthe slow outflow of water from the upper to the lower side of the piston. v

'7. In a device of the class described, the combination of a casing having a valve seat, a cylinder mounted above the valve seat and coaxial therewith, a maln valve cooperating. with the valve seat, a piston in the cylinder,

connected to the main Vvalve for operating the same, a hollow stem forming said con-- nection,a cap G closing the upper end of the cylinder, a stuffing box on such cap, a` supplemental manually-controlled valve, a'

valve seat therefor on the main valve, a valve stem for operating/such supplemental valve extending through the hollow stem and'stufiing box and provided with operating means outside the casing, a sleeve surrounding the valve stem secured at its upper end to the cap G and extending within the hollow of the stem connecting the piston` and main valve, and a bypass for permitting escape of water from the upper end of the cylinder. l

8. In a device of the class described, the combination of a casing having a valve seat,I mounted above the valve seat and coaxial therewith, a main valve coperating v with the valve seat, a piston in the cylinder connected to the main valve for operating the same, a hollow stem fornnng said connection, a cap G closing the upper end of f the cylinder, a stuffing box on such cap,'a

valvell`ry an openingl from the bore of the hollow stem Yto the interior of the casing,

' water and a by-pass for ter from the upper end of the cylinder.

9. In a device valvecasing having inlet and outlet passages and a valve seat, a main valve, a cylinder on the outlet side of said valve havlng a closed top, a piston inthe cylinder having a hollow stem connected to said main valve and forming a passage for the flow of water, said passage having an opening into said cylinder, a supplemental valve seating on said main' valve for governingsaid passage,

permitting escape of wa a valve stein for voperating said sup-` of the class described, a l

plemental valve extending through said hollow stem and through the top of the cylinder, a stuffing box surrounding said valve stem, and a hollow sleeve secured at its upper end to the casing and having a sliding engagement with the upper. end of the hollow stem.

l0. In a device of the class described, a valve casing having inlet and outlet passages and provided with a cylinder havin a closed top, a lmain valve controlling sai inlet and outlet passages, a piston in said cylinder, said piston having a hollowstem opening into the cylinder for the How of water thereinto, a valve controlling the How of water through said hollow stemiand having a va1ve stem extending through said hollow stem and through the top of the casing,.and a hollow sleeve surrounding said valve stemsecured at its upper end to the casing and having a sliding engagement with the uper end of said hollow stem.

11. In a slow closing valve, the combination of a casing having a valve seat, a main valve cooperating therewith, inflow and outflow ports in the casing, a cylinder, having its lower end closed except for passages of limited area, mounted above the valve, and

above'the level of the outflow passage, a piston in the cylinder, a passage for admitting water to theupper end of the cylinder, a check valve in said passage, a hand-operated valve also'controlling such passage, and a by-pass for permitting the slow outflow of from the upper to the lower side of the piston.

EARL G. WATROUS.

Witnesses ROBERT DOBBERMAN, LOUIS B. Enwnv. 

